The risk of flooding
from culverts (underground
tunnels) in Appleby will soon be reduced
as the Environment Agency plans to start
essential work in the New Year (10 January
2011).
The risk of flooding
from culverts (underground tunnels) in Appleby
will soon be reduced as the Environment
Agency plans to start essential work in
the New Year (10 January 2011).
The culvert replacements
will reduce the risk of collapses and blockages
in the underground Doomgate watercourse
which could cause flooding to residential
properties and businesses.
Preliminary work will
start at the junction of Holme Street and
Doomgate on Monday 10 January 2011. Trial
pits will be dug to identify where underground
services and utilities are present, such
as electric cables and water pipes, and
to determine the exact alignment for the
replacement culverts.
Due to the location
of the damaged culverts, some roads will
be closed to allow this essential work to
take place. The road between Holme Street
and Shaw’s Wiend will be closed from 10
January 2011. Work will start at Holme Street
and will move up to Shaw’s Wiend as quickly
as possible, however, sections of this road
will be closed for up to two and a half
months.
The second phase of
this work will be to install new pipes along
Colby Lane. Traffic lights will be used
to control the flow the traffic, however,
there may be sections which can only be
carried out using a road closure, resulting
in no vehicular access from Colby Lane to
Shaw’s Wiend.
Mike Harper, Environment
Agency Project Manager, said: “It is essential
that we carry out this work, to bring the
culverts up to the required condition and
restore their capacity, to reduce flood
risk to the town. Unfortunately, due to
the nature of the works, this will mean
some unavoidable road closures and we apologise
for any disruption this essential work may
cause. We are working in partnership with
Cumbria Highways and Eden District Council
to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.”
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Notes to Editors:
1. Our flood warning
codes have changed. Be prepared. Find out
more by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188
or by visiting www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fwd.
2. Find out if your
home or business is at risk of flooding
and get information about how to protect
them, by calling the Environment Agency
Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or by visiting
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodnorthwest.
Environment Agency Wales warns people in
Neath Port Talbot area ‘Don’t be the only
one who isn’t prepared for flooding’
Environment Agency Wales has been speaking
face-to face with people in the Neath Port
Talbot area, in a bid to help them understand
and manage their flood risk.
As a result, around
95 per cent of those spoken with have agreed
to take practical action to be better prepared.
Officers from the Agency’s
Flood Awareness Wales team have spoken directly
with over 200 householders and businesses
at risk of flooding in Glynneath (Maes y
Marchog, Morfa Glas and Pont Walby) and
Glyncorrwg.
The Agency says that
almost all of those spoken with (97 per
cent) are now more aware of the practical
actions to take to prepare for flooding
to minimise its impact. And around 95 per
cent have committed to taking action to
reduce their flood risk such as completing
a personal flood plan. Additional properties
at risk of flooding in these areas will
be further targeted in the future when the
Agency seeks to engage with the wider community
as part of its Flood Awareness programme.
As part of the Flood
Awareness Wales campaign, launched in June
this year, Agency officers are visiting
communities across Wales, like those in
the Neath Port Talbot area, where there
is a high risk of flooding but where awareness
of that risk is perceived to be low.
The officers provide
advice about flood risk and encourage local
people to complete personal flood plans
and flood kits for use in emergencies, as
well as providing information on practical
measures that can be taken now to prepare
for a flood.
To date the campaign
has visited almost 5000 properties in south
west Wales to help raise awareness of flood
risk and how to be prepared.
Leading FAW officer
for south west Wales Simone Eade said “We
want people to be aware that although flooding
cannot be completely prevented, there are
things that they can do in advance to help
reduce the devastating impact it can have.
We’ve still got more properties at risk
in these areas that we want to engage with
in the future. The message is simple - don’t
be the only one who isn’t prepared”.
You can find out if
your property is at risk by calling Floodline
0845 988 1188 or visiting www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwales.
“We are also encouraging
people to create a personal flood plan containing
important information you would need during
a flood such as insurance policy numbers,
locations of gas, electricity and water
mains and emergency contact numbers, and
we recommend you keep this somewhere safe
and easy to reach in a waterproof folder.
You can also survey your home to identify
the ways in which floodwater may enter.
Sandbags and plastic sheets can be kept
to hand to put in front of the entrances
to your property, or you could purchase
flood boards for a more permanent method
of prevention”, added Simone.
Visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwales
to download a personal flood plan, view
a short film providing a step to step guide
of the practical actions needed to prepare
for a flood and for further information
about what to do before, during and after.
Gwenda Thomas AM for
Neath said “I am pleased to give my continued
support to the Environment Agency Wales’
Flood Awareness Campaign. Ensuring that
my constituents whether they are home or
business owners have access to information
and advice is very important.”
She added,”I would encourage
people who think that they maybe at risk
of flooding to familiarise themselves with
the information packs or advice from Environment
Agency Wales. Being aware of how we can
prepare to meet this risk could ensure people's
safety and reduce the damage that maybe
caused by flooding.”
Brian Gibbons AM for
Aberavon said: “While there have been a
number of flooding incidents in the constituency
in recent years, not everyone is aware of
their risk. This campaign to raise awareness
by Environment Agency Wales is therefore
welcome. Hopefully through creating greater
awareness, people will be in a better position
to take the necessary personal and household
precautions.”
‘Flood Awareness Wales’
is a Welsh Assembly Government funded project.
